What can Inter Miami expect from Columbus Crew tonight?

On Wednesday evening, Inter Miami will showdown with Columbus Crew in the biggest regular season game they will play this campaign. Columbus are eight points behind Inter Miami, and have a game in hand.

Should they get the upper hand on Gerardo Martino's side, they could cut the lead to just two points when they play their game in hand against New England Revolution the weekend after. In fact, if they gain ground on Inter Miami this coming weekend too, a win against New England Revolution could even see them take top spot.

That is the worst case scenario, however. The best case scenario is that Inter Miami win this game and secure the supporters shield, which would be the clubs second piece of silverware since being founded in 2018, having won the Leagues Cup in 2023.

Columbus Crew are clearly a very good side, which is why they are still fighting for a chance at the supporters shield with just a few games to go. Cucho Hernandez is clearly the dangerman, with his 16 league goals so far only bettered by five players, including Luis Suarez. The Colombian was scoring against Arsenal in the Premier League as recently as 2022.

Inter Miami can't just prepare for Hernandez, though, or risk being hurt by their other dangermen. Diego Rossi, who plays as one of the two number tens in Wilfred Nancy's 3421 set up, offers creativity and guile. The Uruguyan has 11 goals and seven assists in the MLS this season.

Their captain, Darlington Nagbe provides the steel in the middle of the park. His physicality coud be a concern against an Inter Miami midfield that can be seen as a bit lightweight. Christian Ramirez, who can play up front or as a number ten, has eight goals in just 14 MLS starts this season.

As good as they are, they do have some weaknesses. While they have not been as frail as Inter Miami defensively, their 33 goals conceded is still more than one a game. They can be exposed in the air, struggling in duels. They could not live with Christian Benteke's aerial threat in their last outing against DC United, and while his two goals were both with his feet, they denied Columbus what would have been a huge victory.

With Inter Miami's home record, the best in the East, and the second best in the MLS, they should have enough to edge this one, but it will be a very hard task. Even if they don't, as long as they can secure a point and keep Columbus at arm's length, it should still be enough to secure the supporters' shield in the last couple of games.